financetom
Business
financetom
/
Business
/
Oil steady after recent losses on demand concerns
News World Market Environment Technology Personal Finance Politics Retail Business Economy Cryptocurrency Forex Stocks Market Commodities
Oil steady after recent losses on demand concerns
Aug 29, 2024 9:10 AM

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Oil was little changed on Wednesday after a sharp drop in the previous session ended a three-day streak of gains, amid persistent concerns over potential supply losses from the Middle East and North Africa as well as global fuel demand worries.

Brent crude futures were up 8 cents at $79.63 a barrel at 0653 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures up 7 cents to trade at $75.60.

Prices fell more than 2% on Tuesday, snapping a three-day streak of gains of more than 7%, as concerns about low refinery profit margins weighed on expectations for fuel demand amid data showing global consumption growth has been lower than forecasts.

While a decline in U.S. oil and fuel inventories last week supported prices, the potential loss of Libyan oil output and the possible expansion of the Israel-Gaza conflict to include Iranian-backed militants from Hezbollah in Lebanon remain the largest risks to oil markets.

"Geopolitical risks continue to hover over the market," analysts at ANZ said in a note on Wednesday.

Several oilfields across Libya have halted output as closures spread, amid a dispute between rival government factions over control of the central bank and oil revenue. The dispute puts about 1.2 million barrels per day of production at risk.

There has still been no confirmation of any closures from the Tripoli-based government, or from the National Oil Corp (NOC), which is in charge of oil resources.

However, engineers at the southeastern Amal and Nafoora oilfields told Reuters production had been halted, while engineers at Abu Attifel, also in the east, said output was reduced.

In the Middle East, fighting continued in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas militants, displacing Palestinians while there were few signs of a concrete breakthrough in ceasefire talks in Cairo. Over the weekend, Israel and Hezbollah bombarded each other with rockets and missiles across the Lebanese border.

"The exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah threatens to derail negotiations over a ceasefire. While both parties have said they have concluded military operations for now, the market is still wary of an outbreak," ANZ said.

U.S. crude oil inventories fell 3.407 million barrels in the week ended Aug. 23 last week, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday. Gasoline inventories fell by 1.863 million barrels, and distillates fell by 1.405 million barrels.

Later on Wednesday, weekly U.S. oil storage data is due from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Comments
Welcome to financetom comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Related Articles >
Google settles YouTube children's privacy lawsuit
Google settles YouTube children's privacy lawsuit
Aug 20, 2025
Aug 19 (Reuters) - Google will pay $30 million to settle a lawsuit claiming it violated the privacy of children using YouTube by collecting their personal information without parental consent, and using it to send targeted ads. A preliminary settlement of the proposed class action was filed on Monday night in San Jose, California, federal court, and requires approval by...
US soybean farmers urge Trump to make purchase deal with China
US soybean farmers urge Trump to make purchase deal with China
Aug 20, 2025
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. soybean farmers urged President Donald Trump in a Tuesday letter to reach a trade deal with China that secures significant soybean purchase agreements, warning of dire long-term economic outcomes if the country continues to shun the U.S. crop.  China, the world's largest soybean buyer, is turning to Brazilian cargoes amid trade tensions with the U.S. and ongoing negotiations....
Banco do Brasil ready to handle 'complex' issues amid debate over US sanctions
Banco do Brasil ready to handle 'complex' issues amid debate over US sanctions
Aug 20, 2025
BRASILIA (Reuters) -Banco do Brasil said on Tuesday it is prepared to deal with complex, sensitive issues involving global regulations after a top court justice ruled foreign laws cannot be automatically applied in Brazil. The statement followed a Reuters query about the U.S. Magnitsky Act, which President Donald Trump used last month to sanction Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes,...
Max Resource Shares Double After Securing Rights to Buy 100% of Mora Gold-Silver Title in Colombia
Max Resource Shares Double After Securing Rights to Buy 100% of Mora Gold-Silver Title in Colombia
Aug 20, 2025
12:11 PM EDT, 08/19/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Max Resource ( MXROF ) shares more than doubled on Tuesday after its Colombian unit, Maximum Company Colombia S.A.S., entered into an arm's-length purchase deal to buy Mining Concession No. KK6-08031 or the Mora property. Pursuant to Maximum acquiring 100% of the shares of Villamora, the owner of Mora, Maximum acts as the...
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.financetom.com All Rights Reserved